Find the Right Franchise Lawyer for Your Business
Whether you're franchising your business for the first time or expanding into new states, hiring the right franchise lawyer is one of the most important decisions you'll make. Franchise law is a highly specialized area that blends regulatory compliance, business structuring, and long-term growth strategy. If you’re still asking yourself who can help you franchise your business, our guide walks through the professionals involved, their roles, and why starting with a franchise lawyer sets you up for success.
At The Internicola Law Firm, we help emerging and growth-stage franchisors build legally compliant, scalable franchise systems. With fixed-fee services and a team of attorneys who’ve represented over 300+ brands, we’re the legal team behind some of the franchise industry's fastest-growing brands.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what franchise lawyers do, how to evaluate the right attorney for your brand, and what to expect in terms of experience, pricing, and results. If you’re asking “who can help me franchise my business,” the short answer is: start with a franchise lawyer.
What Does a Franchise Lawyer Do?
A franchise lawyer is an attorney who focuses on legal issues related to franchising — including federal and state franchise law compliance, FDD preparation, franchise agreement structuring, state registrations, and ongoing counsel for franchisors.
Franchise lawyers may also advise franchisees, particularly on FDD reviews or disputes, but at Internicola, our focus is on representing franchisors who are building and scaling their systems.
Our franchise lawyers help clients:
- Determine if franchising is the right growth model
- Develop Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and franchise agreements
- Navigate state registrations and annual renewals
- Stay compliant with Item 19, marketing rules, and franchise sales regulations
- Build a legal foundation that supports smart, sustainable franchise growth
→ Discover our franchise legal services for franchising your business nationwide
Franchise Law: What You Need to Know
Franchise law is governed by both federal and state-specific regulations.
- At the federal level, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Franchise Rule, requiring franchisors to issue an FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) before offering or selling a franchise.
- At the state level, certain states require FDD registration, impose additional disclosures, and regulate the franchisor-franchisee relationship.
Franchise Lawyers by State
We represent franchisors in all 50 states. Learn more about franchise registration and legal representation in your state:
How to Evaluate a Franchise Lawyer's Experience
Not all attorneys who claim to work in franchising have the experience or focus you need. When evaluating a franchise lawyer, consider:
- Franchisor vs. Franchisee Experience: Do they primarily help founders franchise their business, or just review FDDs for buyers?
- Industry Involvement: Are they members of the ABA Forum on Franchising and International Franchise Association ?
- Client Results: Have they worked with brands that have successfully launched and scaled?
- Fixed-Fee Services: Do they offer clear, upfront pricing aligned with your business goals?
At Internicola, we’re not a big general practice law firm — we’re a national boutique law firm built exclusively for franchisors and franchising your business. Unlike large firms that treat franchising as a sub-practice, we focus 100% on franchise law — with a fixed-fee model, faster turnaround, and hands-on strategic support from a team that’s helped over 300+ brands grow across all 50 states.
Franchise Lawyer vs. Franchise Consultant: Know the Difference
If you're researching how to franchise your business, you’ve likely encountered franchise consultants or developers offering to "franchise your business," “prepare your FDD” or “get you franchised.”
Here’s the truth:
- FDDs are legal documents — and can only be prepared by licensed attorneys.
- Franchise developers are not lawyers, and cannot legally draft or file FDDs.
- Consultants may offer operations support — but they cannot ensure legal compliance or protect your long-term interests.
If you're serious about franchising, you need legal representation from a dedicated franchise law firm. See our complete breakdown of who can actually help you franchise your business — including where consultants fit in — here.
What Does a Franchise Lawyer Cost?
Franchise lawyer fees vary depending on the scope of services and whether the lawyer uses hourly billing or fixed-fee pricing. At Internicola, we offer flat-fee franchise launch packages and monthly legal counsel programs for franchisors at every stage.
Our fees are transparent, fixed, and aligned with the outcomes you care about:
→ Launching your franchise
→ Closing deals faster
→ Staying compliant as you grow
→ See our Franchise Your Business Fixed Fees and fixed Counsel Fee Services (No hourly billing or guessing)»
Why Business Owners Choose The Internicola Law Firm
- #1 Franchise Legal Supplier (2025) — Entrepreneur Magazine
- We draft FDDs & franchise agreements and manage 50-state registrations/renewals (including examiner comments)
- Item 19 strategy aligned to growth goals
- 90–120 days to legally offer and sell franchises (FDD drafted/issued; initial state filings submitted), typical
- Fixed-fee programs (no hourly surprises) and FranIQ® compliance platform for filings, deadlines, and deal docs
Talk to a franchise lawyer today.
(800) 976-4904 · Request a Free Consultation